Director of Academic Services and Libraries (University Librarian)

Company description:

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Job description:

Newcastle University is seeking an outstanding leader to join our Professional Services Leadership Team as Director of Academic Services and Libraries.

This is a pivotal senior role at the heart of the University, providing strategic and operational leadership for Library and Academic Services in support of education, research, engagement and the wider student experience. Leading a directorate of around 200 colleagues, the successful candidate will champion a positive, inclusive and student-centred service culture, delivering world-class information resources, distinctive special collections and archives, and expert support for academic and digital literacies.

Reporting to the Registrar, you will shape and deliver a compelling vision for the future of library and academic services, aligned to the University's strategy for Next Generation Newcastle. You will lead our response to rapid digital change, advance open research and educational innovation, and ensure services remain agile, sustainable and future-focused. Working closely with academic and professional services colleagues, you will influence University strategy, foster strong partnerships, and represent Newcastle regionally, nationally and internationally.

We are looking for an experienced, credible leader with a strong track record of strategic delivery, collaborative working and inclusive people leadership, who is motivated by the opportunity to shape services that enable excellence and have lasting impact.

This appointment follows the forthcoming retirement of Jill Taylor-Roe and offers a rare opportunity to lead and further strengthen a highly regarded service at a research-intensive, globally connected university.

You can find more information in our candidate information pack here

For an informal conversation in relation to this role please reach out to Colin Campbell, Registrar. Colin.campbell@newcastle.ac.uk

Assessments and interviews will be held early March 2026

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

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